Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/76

50, McKinley pushed on, driving the leading wagon himself and picking up a stray pair of mules as he went. At last he reached the field of battle, much to the amazement of many officers and to the intense delight of his command.

"Hurrah, here's Sergeant McKinley with rations!" was the cry. "Hurrah!" And somebody else added: "What have you got, Mac? Be sure and give us the best, for we may be dead men by next meal-time!"

And give them his best Sergeant McKinley did, boiling up coffee and handing it around by the cup, canteen, and kettle, along with the rest of the provisions. One poor fellow, who was shot and who was leaning against a tree, received his portion of coffee with a muttered "God bless the lad!" that went straight to McKinley's heart and repaid him, so he said, for all the trouble he had taken.

And what was the result of this unexpected devotion to duty? When the fighting was done, many laughed at the young sergeant, and some commissary men sneered at him for "going beyond his line of duty," as they put it. But Colonel Hayes did not